Pubdate: Tue, 04 Mar 2003
Source: Wilmington Morning Star (NC)
Copyright: 2003 Wilmington Morning Star
Contact:  http://www.wilmingtonstar.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/500
Author: Sam Scott, Staff Writer

CITY-COUNTY ANTI-NARCOTICS UNIT ENDS SIX YEARS OF WORK TOGETHER

The Decision Formalizes A Break That Had Taken Place In All But Name Months 
Ago.

The six-year collaboration between the New Hanover County Sheriff's 
Department and Wilmington police anti-drug units has ended, Wilmington's 
city manger said Monday.

In a Friday meeting with Sheriff Sid Causey and Wilmington Chief John 
Cease, both sides agreed to terminate the City-County Vice and Narcotics 
Unit, said Sterling Cheatham, Wilmington's city manager.

The decision formalizes a break that had taken place in all but name months 
ago, Mr. Cheatham said. Both sides had been operating separately for at 
least a year, he said.

The two departments came together in the spring of 1997, when then-Sheriff 
Joe McQueen and the newly hired Chief Cease agreed the venture would go a 
long way in fighting dope dealers.

At the time, Sheriff McQueen said that the officers in different 
departments didn't always communicate about each other's cases, causing 
problems that only benefited criminals.

But more recently, Chief Cease lobbied against continuing the union, saying 
different philosophies and responsibilities worked against its being a success.

Mr. Cheatham said it would be important for both sides to work together in 
the future.

As an operational decision, the move required no council involvement, he said.

Calls to Sheriff Causey and Chief Cease Monday evening were not returned as 
of press time.
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